re: #123 Lazarus

Defense is a proper function of government — something the free market cannot provide a rights-respecting society. Government is the only legitimate institution to have the legal sanction to use force. Hence, the military (to protect citizens from attack from abroad), the courts (to resolve legal disputes), and the police (to protect citizens from domestic attack) are the only proper functions of government.

The production of goods and services must be left to the free market.

Volcano monitoring falls under the protection of life and property, which is absolutely in the mandate of government. Other examples: epidemic disease control, pest control, flood control, hurricane monitoring, and asteroid monitoring.